Examining the Case for Active Orbital Debris Removal

Abstract

For some time the problem of increasing orbital debris has been clearly understood to be a potential menace to the future sustainable use of space. Dr. Donald Kessler, the father of the concept of the so-called “Kessler Syndrome”, has recently written that even with the 25 year rule for removal of debris after the end of life of spacecraft and the voluntary, non-binding rules adopted by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) are insufficient. He believes space debris will continue to accumulate just due to collisions among existing debris. He has particularly noted the danger that comes from the potential collision of large pieces of debris. Dr. Kessler has indicated that “in the region between 700 and 1,000 km, events such as the Iridium/Cosmos collision can now be expected to occur at a rate of about once per 10 years. If the 25-year rule is not followed, then the frequency of collisions will increase more significantly over time. These collision rates can be expected to increase for hundreds of years and end only when there is a significant decrease in the number of massive debris objects within this altitude band.” [Kessler] Although the low earth orbit bands, and especially the polar low earth orbits are of the most urgent concerns, there are also increased concerns about other orbits as well.